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| The Challenge of East-West Comparative Studies |
| ZHANG Long-xi |
| City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong |
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Abstract “Eurocentric” claims not only demonstrate earlier European comparatists’ self-awareness of comparative literature as a research field across languages, cultures and disciplines, but also nurture a biased critical discourse of world literature, as formulated by Franco Moretti and Pascale Casanova. The core idea of “ethnocentrism” in various forms is to see its own culture as unique and superior to other cultures. This misconception has impaired meaningful emotional connections, ethical resonance and the “consummate beauty of human nature” envisioned by Rabindranath Tagore. Parallel to this fallacy is the practice of ignoring or distorting shared humanity in much of contemporary Western scholarship, as manifest in the idea of Thomas Kuhn’s incommensurability, Jacquess Derrida’s différance, Michel Foucault’s China as heterotopia, the widely-discussed notion of untranslatability and the stereotyping of West, East or Asia. However, despite the professed differences, similarities and affinities shared by Mencius, Peter Singer and George Lakoff are surprisingly discernible in their discussions on moral principles, humanity and ways of philosophizing, which opens up the infinite possibility of sympathy and understanding. Thirty years ago, Claudio Guillen and René?Etiemble urged us to break with Euro-centrism and to fulfill the cosmopolitan ideal of East-West comparative studies. Nowadays, in view of political tension, escalated military conflicts and the lack of understanding, it is of utter necessity to promote cross-cultural understanding across East-West cultural-linguistic differences. It is not only the future of East-West comparative studies but also the promise of a better world.
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Received: 28 October 2017
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2018, Vol. 35 
